, 1887-05-07

rest with Government in procuring the con-
veyance of the mails between the towns.
4th Member for Christiansted's Country
District (RaphGeD meant that a great saving
could be effected by using the military, and
that the military horses if judiciously used
would do the service and be sufficient.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (SUitSer) thought that the money &C.
cruing from the passengers using the mail
coach should go to the Colonial Treasury.
The GOCermOr said, that the Government
was willing to be guided in this matter by
the Council, If they were DESTROYS, then no.
tice might be given and the matter put up for
public licitation.
The Money Bill was then adopted with Is
votes against g..
8. The Military Expenses sub Item D. Z.
for $29, 1905.
4th Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (lfcDOnalO remarked that we had
several times been told that it was likely that
the mother country would take over the mill
tary expenses, but that it did not appear
that anything had been definitely settled on
this point, and he would like to know how the
colony stood as to responsibility. Would a
change of Ministry in Copenhagen, for in
stance, involve the possibility of our being
called on to pay these amounts, which were
accommodating from year to year? The posi-
ton of the Colonial Councils Members was
in reality worth while complaining on. Mem
bers were for instance not allowed to vote
on many of the items of the Budget. h
constituents of the members were complain
ing. In fact he thought that it would be bet
ter, that there were no Council and that
the whole responsibility and duty of Govern
ment should rest on the Home Government.
The Chairman said that if the honorable
member would bring in a Draft of Ordinance
for abolishing the Colonial Council he would
go with him, although the subject could not
then be discussed.
The Governor begged to say that such a
change could not be effected by a draft OF
Ordinance, the change could only be made by
q Law passed in Copenhagen.
The Chairman admitted that he had made
a mistake and that the correct method would
be to move that O. petition be presented on
the subject by the Colonial Council:
The Money Bill was then adopted.
10. The Militia and Fire Department, sub
Item D s for $4,000, was by vote unani-
mously adopted.
II. The Road Department, sub Item Dis
for $4,000, with amendment.
The Governor begged to recommend the
amount proposed as remuneration to the
Building Inspector for his technical assistance
to the Road Commission. He deemed 1t
good economy in the long run.
4th Memberfor Christiansted's Country Dis"
trict (RaphaeD begged to maintain most
strenuously that such technical assistance
was not needed. He considered it q retiec-
ton on the planters to propose it. There
were many works in the island which had
stood the test of time, although built without
technical assistance. The accident to the
Grange Bridge, which had induced the Gov
eminent to propose the change, was one
which from it's nature would probably have
happened even if the bridge had been built
by an engineer.
1st Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (RasselD could not but agree with the
last honorable speaker. 1t did seem like
a slight offered to a community of planters
who for the past $50 years had been deemed
competent enough to build bridges DC. and
now be thought unfit.
The Governor remarked that there was no
question of putting a slight on the planters.
It was not intended that the building Inspec.
tor should advise about ordinary road making.
but only about the building of bridges and
similar works, which even engineers regard as
very difficult. At the same tione the Govern
ment had no intention of forcing such technical
assistance on the planters.
Ord Crown Member (FGber) meant that the
matter ought to have been sent to the Budget
- .IA-O .-u~-lI olxx;co tln noun~oSno~A